Introducing Chunk

This is our new puppy Chunk. He's a 12 week old black pug. Nature Girl picked him out and named him herself because she thought he looked like a chocolate chunk. We picked him up four weeks ago and have been busy trying to train him and adjust to life as puppy owners. Chunk is a bite-er. He bites fingers, toes, shoes and shoe laces. This doesn't endear him to my husband, as he regularly has his toes chewed on!

Chunk went to his first puppy class last night where we worked on sit, which he already knew, and down which he needs a lot more practice on. Hopefully he'll learn not to bite so much! We've been working on it, so he's better with me but not Nature Girl and my husband. I think it's his way to trying to get them to play and interact with him but it hurts like heck!

Chunk is my little buggy-eyed boy. When he plays, his eyes get super buggy. It's too cute! He makes me laugh. It's hilarious when he chases his own tail! Last week he chased his tail at the top of a hill and ended up doing summersaults all the way down the hill. It was one of the funniest things I've seen all summer.

Here Chunk is sitting in a pink car seat. He likes to sit in Nature Girl's seat when she's not in the car. He has a doggie seat belt on but can just reach the car seat to sit in it. This picture was taken during his first long road trip when we stopped for a few minutes. He stole Nature Girl's seat when she got up. Really he is great in the car! He rode for 5 hours and slept most of the way.

Life with a new puppy has been a bit busy but I think he is a keeper! Just look at that sweet little face!

Panda Partners

Let the panda fun begin! Panda Swap partner information has been emailed out. If you have any questions let me know.

Panda Swap 2011

Nature Girl asked me last week why I don't sign her up for swaps anymore. I explained that working moms have less time for swaps. Of course since I'm a teacher and have the summer off that doesn't currently seem like a good reason. So we discussed hosting our own swap. We decided to host a panda themed swap. We're already thinking about panda bags/purses, panda softies, panda journals, panda pillows, panda key chains, panda jewelry, etc. The possibilities are endless! As you can see we're excited about this swap, we hope you are too! Here's what we are swapping:

Participants will swap:

• One handcrafted panda themed item.

• Three black and white goodies of your choice. These can be bought or made.

• A card or note to your partner to say hi. Please include your e-mail address so your partner can send you a thank you.

Swap rules:

1. This swap is open to people of all ages. If this swap is for a child make sure you state that in your sign-up so the package can be geared to a child.
2. You must have a blog or website to participate in the swap.
3. Please be prepared to spend or create items that are about a $10 to $15 value. You don't have to spend a lot, just send something that you would be happy to receive.
4. All packages must be mailed by August 16th. If you are in the US please use delivery confirmation and send me your tracking number. Please send e-mail to let me know when you mail and when you receive a panda package.
5. You must send a thank you note to your partner once you receive your package. It's only polite to say thank you when some creates something special just for you.
6. If you sign up you must follow through, so please only sign up if you are able to create and send a package by the deadline(August 16th.) We don't want any sad swappers! :(

Now that you've read the rules, it's time to sign up. Swap sign up is open from now until midnight on Friday July 15th, so hurry! Partner information will be sent on July 17th. You can sign up by completing the sign-up form HERE. Leave a comment or e-mail me if you have any questions.

Did you sign-up? If so, grab the swap badge from the sidebar and get ready for some black and white panda fun!

Ladybug YOE

June's YOE theme was ladybugs. I was excited because I have always loved ladybugs and consider them to be lucky. One of the things I've really enjoyed about the YOE swap this year is trying new things. So to keep with the idea of trying new things, this month I tried modge podge and paper mache with tissue paper for my ornaments. The frame ornament on the right was made using a silver frame that I bought at a yard sale. I modge podged a page from Alice In Wonderland onto it, then drew a little ladybug for the center, of course that could be taken out and replaced with any other picture. Since I was having so much fun with the modge podge, I decided to alter a small Altoid tin to be a ladybug ornament or maybe a little pill box for my partner's purse.

The green leaf ornament in the center was made using wire and tissue paper that I glued to the wire. The ladybug on the leaf is also made from paper mached tissue paper. It's not easy to paper mache with tissue paper as it rips super easy when it gets wet!! But I didn't let that stop me and I was really happy with the result. I'm already thinking of other things to create using tissue paper mache.

Of course my personal favorite in the package is the wool ladybug pincushion. I promised myself I wouldn't use recycled wool this month for YOE ornaments but I couldn't stop myself. Technically it's not an ornament but a pin cushion so I didn't really break my promise to myself. Either way, I did use recycled wool and this little ladybug fairy was born. I think she's very cute and rounds out the package. I had a great time making these ornaments and hope my partner Sherry will like them!

Now I'm looking forward to July's theme - Mermaids, water sprites, sirens, and water nymphs! I can't wait to get started! I have a few thoughts stirring in my head but no definite plan or vision yet. I'm still mulling it over.